Geomancy

Geomancy is a method of divination that uses patterns of earth, such as markings in sand or lines on paper, to interpret questions about the future or the world. It can also refer to a traditional Chinese practice for architectural siting, known as feng shui, or a type of “earth magic” found in fantasy, such as the Pathfinder role-playing game and Divinity wiki. The practice has roots in various cultures and uses a system of 16 figures derived from a process of creating and pairing lines of points. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Geomancy as a divination practice

Method: Traditionally, a geomancer would throw handfuls of dirt or sand and interpret the patterns formed. This evolved into using a pen and paper to create lines of points, which are then paired to form the 16 geomantic figures. [1, 7]
System: The 16 figures are the core of the system, with each figure representing a different meaning, planet, and other attributes. [7]
Interpretation: These figures are arranged in a tableau, similar to an astrological chart, which has 12 “houses” that govern different areas of life. A geomancer interprets the meaning of the figures in their specific house locations, as well as their relationships to one another.
Applications: Geomancy was historically used to answer questions about future decisions and was also employed to locate missing persons or buried objects. [7, 8, 9]

Geomancy as an architectural practice

Geomancy and Feng Shui: In the context of traditional Chinese architecture, geomancy is closely related to feng shui, a practice of siting and arranging buildings and interiors to harmonize with their environment.
Example: The Forbidden City was planned based on a central north-south line, with its internal coherence hinging on this line. [1, 4]

Geomancy in fantasy

Magic system: In a fantasy context, geomancy often refers to a type of magic focused on manipulating earth and nature. [6, 10]
Abilities: A geomancer might hurl stones, create earthquakes, conjure vines, or manipulate metal and water to their will. [6, 10]
Inspiration: This type of magic draws inspiration from real-world concepts like the power of natural landscapes and the earth’s energies. [5, 10]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/geomancy

[2] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/geomancy

[3] https://sabinemirlesse.com/Geomancy-The-Science-of-Sand

[4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/geomancy-architectural-siting-technique

[5] https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=1520

[6] https://divinity.fandom.com/wiki/Geomancy

[7] https://prismavisions.com/pages/geomancy-an-introduction

[8] https://www.facebook.com/ScienceChannel/videos/geomancy-strangest-things/952365358671101/

[9] https://www.fengshuisociety.org.uk/2019/10/10/what-is-geomancy/

[10] https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Geomancy

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